The U.S. military contingent in the Middle East continues to grow, which, according to The Wall Street Journal, indicates that the war against Iran is not set to end in the near term. RBC-Ukraine reports this, citing the American publication. When the campaign against Iran began about six months ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised a swift, decisive strike that, in his words, would allow the United States to avoid a prolonged and tangled conflict. However, the current pace of troop deployment tells the opposite story: according to WSJ sources, the conflict could last until 2027.
From a 'Quick Strike' to a Prolonged Conflict
The Pentagon's current course — continuing to build up the American military presence in the region — directly contradicts the Defense Secretary's initial promises. As WSJ's own sources stated, further troop deployment is part of a military strategy designed to give U.S. President Donald Trump "options" in the course of the war. Thus, instead of a swift finishing blow, the administration has effectively shifted to a model of sustained pressure, a fact underscored by the fact that the United States has been running a campaign of economic pressure for several weeks in an attempt to force Tehran to the negotiating table — so far without success, as Iran refuses to back down.
The Scale of the Military Presence
According to available data, approximately 50,000 U.S. service members are currently present in the region. A Navy spokesperson said that 19 warships are in the waters of the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers and 13 guided-missile destroyers. Both sides continue to exchange fire amid the fight for control of the Strait of Hormuz — a key artery of global oil trade. Earlier, top U.S. generals and admirals reportedly warned Hegseth that a prolonged war with Iran was unacceptable, and on August 13 the secretary himself noted that U.S. ships could be rotated both within the region and beyond it if necessary.
Trump's Contradictory Signals
Against the backdrop of further escalation, President Trump is sending contradictory signals about the likely course of the conflict. According to U.S. officials, in private he is discussing with senior aides whether to declare the war with Iran over. The head of state's public and private positions diverge, complicating any assessment of Washington's true intentions and heightening uncertainty for allies and adversaries alike.
Contradictory Data
There are notable inconsistencies between official statements and the assessments of the press. On the one hand, Hegseth initially guaranteed a "swift, decisive strike" and a move away from a prolonged conflict; on the other, his own department is expanding its presence, while WSJ, citing sources, points to a horizon of 2027. At the same time, Trump publicly supports the pressure course, but, according to officials, in private he is discussing the possibility of declaring the war over. Finally, top generals had warned against the acceptability of a prolonged war, yet the Pentagon's actual strategy is built precisely on its continuation. These discrepancies between rhetoric, closed-door discussions, and real actions on the ground and at sea constitute the key contradiction in the current picture.
Political and Budgetary Consequences
By the end of July, the U.S. war against Iran reportedly had already cost the American budget tens of billions of dollars; 18 U.S. service members were killed in action, and hundreds were wounded. Experts warn that further escalation of the conflict could jeopardize the Republicans' prospects in the November midterms. Thus, the military, economic, and domestic-political dimensions of the war with Iran are tightly intertwined, and every new decision by the Pentagon and the White House has consequences far beyond the theater of operations.
